At War Memorial, Razorbacks Overpower Red Wolves in Long Awaited Matchup

The Razorbacks saved one of their sharpest performances for a fitting stage. In their first-ever meeting with Arkansas State, Arkansas rolled to a 56-14 victory Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. With this marked as the Hogs’ final scheduled appearance in the capital, fans got one last chance to see their team dominate the storied field and they were not disappointed.

For a brief moment, the game hinted at a back and forth battle. But Arkansas shut out the Red Wolves in the second half, turning the afternoon into a display of explosive offense and relentless defense.

A Fast Start, by Design

Arkansas quickly set the tone. On the opening possession, running back Mike Washington broke free on a 51-yard toss play, giving the Razorbacks a 7-0 lead just 39 seconds into the game. After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, quarterback Taylen Green found Raylen Sharpe for a 37-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 14-0 with more than ten minutes left in the first quarter. Washington rushed for 72 yards on only three early carries.

Arkansas State answered briefly when Chauncey Cobb returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit in half. The momentum was short-lived. Green responded with a 64-yard touchdown run, and Braylen Russell added a 7-yard score on the next possession, pushing the Razorbacks’ lead to 28-7 late in the first quarter.

The Razorback defense added to the surge with sacks from Quincy Rhodes Jr. and Phillip Lee, along with an interception by Xavian Sorey Jr. Green threw his first interception of the season, which Arkansas State converted into a 14-play, 62-yard touchdown drive finished by a 2-yard pop pass to C. Ambrose, narrowing the lead to 28-14.

Arkansas regained control quickly. Green led an 83-yard drive just before halftime, capped with an 8-yard touchdown pass that sent the Razorbacks into the locker room with a 35-14 lead. By the break, Arkansas had amassed 375 yards of offense compared with Arkansas State’s 123, along with four sacks to none.

The second half belonged entirely to the Razorbacks. Julian Neal’s interception set up Green’s third touchdown pass, a 33-yard strike to Rohan Jones. Later, O’Mega Blake turned a short crossing route into a 14-yard score, extending the lead to 49-14 late in the third quarter.

Backup quarterback KJ Jackson closed the game with authority, leading a 99-yard drive capped by his first career rushing touchdown. The drive sealed a 56-14 rout in Little Rock and marked a performance that was dominant from start to finish.

Offensive Firepower

Arkansas displayed balance in every phase, overwhelming the Red Wolves both through the air and on the ground. Quarterbacks Taylen Green and KJ Jackson combined for more than 300 passing yards, while the Razorbacks also rushed for over 300. Green led the ground game with 151 yards, and running back Mike Washington added 116. Both Washington and Braylen Russell found the end zone.

After a strong fall camp, Washington had been expected to play a bigger role in the season opener. In Week 1, he produced 79 rushing yards and a 27-yard receiving touchdown. On Saturday, he finally broke loose as a rusher, carrying nine times for 116 yards, averaging 12.6 yards per carry, and scoring an early touchdown.

“It felt great,” Washington said of his opening touchdown run. “Was able to get the crowd loud, had a great block from Corey Robinson. I just saw a video of it. I was like, ‘oh, shoot,’ but yeah, it was great to get that one.”

Bobby Petrino’s offense looked every bit as explosive as it had in Week 1. The Razorbacks racked up 630 total yards, including 321 on the ground. Eight different players scored touchdowns, and eight caught passes.

“Offensively, I wouldn’t trade Bobby Petrino for anybody, and I wouldn’t trade Taylen Green either,” head coach Sam Pittman said. “Those guys know how to get players ready to score.”

For Arkansas State, quarterback Jaylen Raynor finished with 125 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Sorey’s Defensive Statement

Redshirt senior linebacker Xavian Sorey was largely quiet in last week’s opener against Alabama A&M, finishing with only one tackle. On Saturday, he made his presence felt.

Sorey led the Razorback defense with 14 tackles, including five solo stops, two tackles for loss, half a sack, and an interception of Raynor in the first quarter. Pittman had challenged Sorey and the entire defensive front to step up, and they responded.

“We challenged them this week,” Pittman said. “I think you all know I said we need more production out of the front seven. We got it. We needed that going into SEC play, but I knew Sorey was going to have a good game just because he was so low and down about the game he played last week. But we got production out of the front seven, and that was good to see.”

Entering the Conference Gauntlet

The Razorbacks will open SEC play Saturday against Ole Miss, with both teams undefeated heading into the matchup.

Last season’s 63-31 blowout loss to the Rebels still lingers in Fayetteville, adding extra motivation. The storyline is layered with intrigue: three former Razorbacks now suit up for Ole Miss, and the Rebels’ unsettled quarterback situation with Austin Simmons keeps fans guessing.

For Arkansas, the first two weeks of the season have offered plenty of optimism. The offense has found its rhythm, the defense has sharpened, and the Hogs seem poised to meet the challenges of SEC competition head-on.